The My Ballard team received multiple emails over the weekend about a coyote that was spotted roaming the neighborhood.
My Ballard reader Anna spotted the coyote at 20th Ave NW and NW 80th St near the Loyal Heights Community Center’s park area.
“Last night (Friday) I was on my way home and turned onto my street to find what I first thought was a local dog, but upon further examination I realized it was a coyote. It ran south and I decided to follow it. After traipsing down the street, it then ran into Loyal Heights Community Center’s park area,” writes Anna. She didn’t see where the coyote went after that and she called the Community Center to report the sighting on Saturday morning.
My Ballard reader Diana also spotted most probably the same coyote on Friday evening on the corner of 34th Ave NW and NW 68th St. “It looked well fed and not afraid. Please remind folks to keep cats inside,” writes Diana.
Remember to be cautious and bring pets inside at night to decrease chances of a coyote attack. Also follow the tips from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife below:
- Don’t leave small children unattended where coyotes are frequently seen or heard. If there are coyote sightings in your area, prepare your children for a possible encounter. Explain the reasons why coyotes live there (habitat/food source/ species adaptability) and what they should do if one approaches them (don’t run, be as big, mean, and loud as possible). By shouting a set phrase such as “go away coyote” when they encounter one, children will inform nearby adults of the coyote’s presence as opposed to a general scream. Demonstrate and rehearse encounter behavior with the children.
- Never feed coyotes. Coyotes that are fed by people often lose their fear of humans and develop a territorial attitude that may lead to aggressive behavior.
- Don’t give coyotes access to garbage. Keep garbage can lids on tight by securing them with rope, chain, bungee cords, or weights. Or keep your cans in tight-fitting bins, a shed, or a garage.
- Feed dogs and cats indoors. If you must feed your pets outside, do so in the morning or at midday, and pick up food, water bowls, leftovers, and spilled food well before dark.
- Keep dogs and cats indoors from dusk to dawn. If left outside at night in an unprotected area, cats and small to mid-size dogs may be killed by coyotes. If you suspect losing a dog or cat to a coyote, notify your neighbors. Once a coyote finds easy prey it will continually hunt in the area.
Did you spot the coyote? Email any information or photos to tips@myballard.com.